On-scene coordinator

D. Hank Ellison served in the United States Army as a chemical officer and has worked for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as both a remedial project manager and federal on-scene coordinator under the Superfund Program. He currently is president of Cerberus Associates, Inc., a consulting firm that specializes in response to technological disasters. 

Chemical Hazards Response Information System/Hazard Assessment Computer System (CHRIS/HACS) Developed by the Coast Guard, HACS is a computerized model of the CHRIS manuals. It is used by federal on scene coordinators during a chemical spill or response. 

This second edition features in-depth coverage of actual response techniques and new approaches for coping with critical situations caused by criminal activity, industrial accidents, or even mini-epidemics. Augmenting its coverage of field first aid for response personnel, this edition contains up-to-date tools such as checklists and streamlined procedures for on-scene coordination. It incorporates the latest detection devices, cost/recovery and hazard analyses, diagnostic methods, pretreatments, vaccines, decontamination techniques, antidotes, and medical treatments available. This edition also adds a focused review of the progress and projected developments for military protocols and procedures. 

Police and firemen are called whenever an accident or spill occurs in the transportation network. They desperately need identification and specific on-scene coordination of activities involving cargoes and materials (7), of involved cargo and hazard properties of materials. 

To clean up hazardous waste sites under Superfund, the Environmental Protection Agency s Removal Program has developed guidance to assist their On-Scene Coordinators specify QA requirements for the collection and analysis of environmental samples to meet the data use objectives in a consistent manner. To use the guidance to its maximum potential, one requires significant expertise in multiple disciplines. IQAP is proposed to be an... 

For a site activity under the purview of the Removal Program, the On-Scene Coordinator (OSC) has the responsibility of preparing the site-specific Sampling QA/QC Plan. The objective of the Sampling QA/QC Plan is to ensure that field sampling efforts and analytical services will provide data of known quality [The quality of data are known when all components associated with their derivation are 0097—6156/90/0431—0082 06.00/0 1990 American Chemical Society... 

OHMTADS Oil and Hazardous Materials Technical Assistance Data System OSC on-scene coordinator... 

These plans must address worst-case discharge and response capabilities including equipment and response time. BOEMRE conducts annual inspections of equipment and conducts drills to test industry response. BOEMRE shares responsibility with the U.S. Coast Cuard (USCG) in incident response. The USCG acts as the federal on-scene coordinator and leads the operational spill response, while BOEMRE focus is on source control. 

The NRC relays information to an ERA or U.S. Coast Guard On Scene Coordinator (OSC), depending on the location of the incident. After receiving a report, the OSC will evaluate the situation and decide if federal emergency response action is necessary. 

On-Scene Coordinators (OSCs) assess whether local emergency response organizations have the resources and capabilities to handle an emergency. If necessary, the OSC will rapidly assemble an array of technical resources from federal agencies. 

There are 13 Regional Response Teams, one for each of the 10 federal regions, plus one each for Alaska, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Basin. RRTs have both preparedness and response roles, and each RRT maintains a Regional Contingency Plan for responding to incidents under the NCP. The RRTs include federal and state personnel and are available during incidents to provide assistance to On-Scene Coordinators. 

The National Response Team s membership represents 16 federal agencies that have responsibilities, interest, and expertise in various aspects of emergency response to pollution incidents. The NRT provides pohcy guidance prior to an incident and can provide assistance during an incident if requested by an On-Scene Coordinator or Regional Response Team. 

Upon receipt of the report, the NRC will notify the on-scene coordinator (OSC) at the appropriate EPA Regional office or U.S. Coast Guard district office. The OSC informs state and local officials and decides on the federal government s response. 

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